Thank You for Supporting CCOCR 2026
The 12th edition of the Canadian Conference on Ovarian Cancer Research (CCOCR) brought together researchers, trainees, patient and community partners from across Canada and around the world to advance ovarian and endometrial cancer research.
CCOCR 2026 by the Numbers
- Nearly 300 attendees
- 41 institutions represented
- Participants from 7 countries
- 50 people with lived and living experience
- 145 abstract submissions
- 86 poster presentations
- 69 invited talks and proffered abstracts
Held in Vancouver from May 29 – June 1, the conference showcased the latest discoveries in ovarian and endometrial cancer research and highlighted the importance of working together to accelerate progress in the field.
Conference Program Highlights
The scientific program featured seven plenary sessions spanning the full spectrum of ovarian and endometrial cancer research, from disease origins and prevention to survivorship, clinical trials, emerging therapeutics, and advances in tumour biology. Nationally and internationally recognized speakers including Dr. Isabelle Ray-Coquard, Dr. William Foulkes, Dr. James Brenton, Dr. Sohrab Shah, Dr. Mercedes Castiel, Dr. Kristen Campbell, Dr. Hannah Nette, Alvina Nadeem, Dr. Lesa Dawson, Dr. Ronny Drapkin, Dr. Jeanette Boudreau, Dr. Yvette Drew, Dr. Helen MacKay, Dr. Jessica McAlpine, Dr. Kemi Doll, Dr. Ernst Lengyel, Dr. Gillian Hanley and Dr. Ranjit Manchanda shared the latest discoveries and future directions in the field.
Complementing the plenary program, attendees were offered the opportunity to tailor their conference experience through four concurrent scientific streams. The Novel Therapeutics stream explored advances in treatment strategies, highlighting novel therapeutics including biologics, RNA vaccines, and targeted agents such as PARP inhibitors, while discussing approaches to overcoming resistance, leveraging cross-disease insights from endometrial cancer, and advancing precision medicine. Emerging Technologies focused on cutting-edge research tools and technologies, showcasing innovations such as artificial intelligence, humanized models, circulating tumour DNA profiling, and spatial biology that are transforming how ovarian cancer is studied, detected, and treated. The Patient-Centred Research stream emphasized patient engagement in research, highlighting how the integration of lived and living experience enhances scientific relevance and impact, while exploring survivorship, supportive care, mental health, and quality-of-life research priorities. Finally, the Risk, Early Detection, and Prevention stream was dedicated to reducing incidence and improving outcomes, exploring genetic risk profiling, novel screening approaches, and prevention strategies such as opportunistic salpingectomy, with an emphasis on translating research into actionable population health interventions.
Celebrating Trainee Excellence
A defining feature of CCOCR 2026 was its commitment to supporting the next generation of ovarian and endometrial cancer researchers. More than $34,000 in trainee awards were presented throughout the conference, recognizing outstanding research and scientific excellence. Trainees played a prominent role in the scientific program, delivering 39 oral presentations, including six presentations selected for plenary sessions.
Learning extended well beyond the podium. The Trainee Workshop brought together trainees with patient partners from Ovarian Cancer Canada’s Patient Partners in Research program and the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, providing practical insights into meaningfully engaging people with lived and living experience throughout the research process. Meanwhile, Breakfast with the Experts created an informal space for trainees to connect with established researchers, ask questions, and build relationships that will continue beyond the conference.
Building a Connected Community
Beyond the scientific program, CCOCR 2026 fostered a collaborative environment where researchers, clinicians, trainees, patient and community partners learned from one another as peers. People with lived and living experience participated throughout the full conference, enriching discussions and ensuring research remained grounded in the priorities of those most affected.
CCOCR 2026 offered multiple opportunities for attendees to connect beyond the formal program. Two poster receptions and an evening social event fostered meaningful conversations, interdisciplinary knowledge exchange, and new collaborations across the ovarian and endometrial cancer community. On Sunday morning, attendees stepped outside the conference venue to join Plunge for the Cure at Kitsilano Beach, to #TakeThePlunge into the ocean. The event offered a memorable opportunity to connect with the broader ovarian cancer community, reinforcing the shared purpose that brought everyone together at CCOCR 2026.
Powered by Partnership
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all attendees, speakers, moderators, presenters, volunteers and patient partners whose enthusiasm, expertise, and commitment made CCOCR 2026 such a success. Your contributions helped create an engaging and inspiring environment for learning, exchanging ideas, and advancing research.
We are also deeply grateful to our sponsors, whose generous support made this event possible. Your investment in ovarian and endometrial cancer research helps drive innovation, collaboration, and progress across the field. Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, AbbVie; Gold Sponsor, Merck; Stream Sponsors, AbCellera, Avitia, BC Cancer Foundation, Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network, and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation; and our Supporters: Cancer Research Society, Genome British Columbia, GSK, Polymorphic Biosciences, Small Cell Ovarian Cancer Foundation, Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada, and STEMCELL Technologies.
Finally, we thank Ovarian Cancer Canada for their partnership in CCOCR 2026. We look forward to building on the energy, ideas, and shared commitment to advance research and improve outcomes for those affected by ovarian and other gynecologic cancers.
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